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Hepatitis B is a serious disease. The hepatitis B virus (HBV) can cause short-term (acute)illness that leads to:
loss of appetite
tiredness
pain in muscles, joints, and stomach
diarrhea and vomiting
jaundice (yellow skin or eyes)
It can also cause long-term (chronic) illness that leads to:
liver damage (cirrhosis)
liver cancer
death
About 1.25 million people in the U.S. have chronic HBV infection.
Each year it is estimated that:
80,000 people, mostly young adults, get infected with HBV
More than 11,000 people have to stay in the hospital because of hepatitis B
4,000 to 5,000 people die from chronic hepatitis B
Hepatitis B vaccine can prevent hepatitis B. It is the first anti-cancer vaccine because it can prevent a form of liver cancer.
source: U.S. Department for Health and Human Services / Centers for Disease Control
website: Center for Disease Control |
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